Riverside County sheriff's deputies received two
calls from the 17000 block of Armintrout Drive in Riverside, according to a
sheriff's news release. A woman called and said her husband was attacked
by a dog, and a man called and said his neighbor had beaten a dog with a large
rock.

Los Angeles County Assistant Fire Chief Glynn Johnson
said he was defending himself when the 6-month-old German shepherd mix, Karley,
nearly severed his thumb.

Johnson said the dog got loose and ran through his
yard when he grabbed her by the collar and started walking her home. Halfway
there, Johnson said Karley rolled on her back and bit onto his thumb. "I
didn't want to kill a puppy," Johnson said, his left thumb wrapped in gauze
and his right hand bandaged. "It surprised me. The dog tore into me with
the ferocity of a badger. I'm very sorry they lost a dog, but I was also the
victim of an attack." Johnson was hospitalized and suffered a broken
bone in his thumb. He said he had to have his thumb reattached and still suffers
severe pain.

The dog's owners, the Toole family, said the dog
was found several months ago off the side of the road and was adopted into their
family. They said she had never been vicious and they believe Johnson maliciously
pummeled the dog in a premeditated attack. "I think it was his intention
to hurt our dog," said Shelley Toole. "She was like my baby. I miss
her terribly, and I can't feel safe living next to him."

Police are trying to determine whether a crime has
been committed. No arrest has been made, but police are investigating
possible animal cruelty charges if the case is submitted to the Riverside County
district attorney's office.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman
said Johnson contacted his superiors about the incident, calling it self-defense.
He agreed to go on paid administrative leave until the outcome of the investigation,
Johnson said.

"The Los Angeles County Fire Department is
deeply concerned with allegations regarding Assistant Fire Chief Glynn Johnson
's actions in the beating of his neighbor's dog," Freeman said in a statement.
"Once more facts are available, the department will take appropriate action
as warranted."

A neighbor, Travis Staggs, 24, said he had found
the dog at the bottom of the Toole's driveway, when Johnson offered to take
it home next door.

Staggs said he didn't see Karley bite Johnson and
thought he walked the puppy behind a barn on his property where he couldn't
be seen. Staggs said Johnson got on top of the dog and started punching the
puppy, trying to rip the dog's jaws apart as he bashed her head with a rock.

After Karley snapped, Johnson said he had to pry
the dog's jaws open to free his hand, and then the puppy bit his other hand.
Johnson said he used a rock to beat the dog into submission until he stopped
biting him.

The Toole family found the dog lying in a gully.
The dog suffered a broken jaw, nose, crushed skull and lost an eye. The vet
said she would have faced permanent brain damage before the family decided to
put her to sleep, according to a Murrieta veterinarian report.

Riverside County sheriff's Investigator David Barton
said in a report that police received calls minutes apart - one that a woman's
husband had been attacked by a dog, the other that a neighbor had beaten someone's
dog with a boulder.

Update 11/11/08:
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation into the
animal cruelty allegations made against Glynn Johnson on November 3 is continuing.
For several days, investigators have attempted to contact Johnson to ask if
he is willing to provide more information about the incident. Attempts to contact
him by phone, at his home and through his employment have been unsuccessful
so far.

As a public employee on paid administrative leave
he has to be available to his employer, Law enforcement states that Los Angeles
County Fire is unable to contact him either. This fugitive is making nearly
15,000 a month while hiding, time for the county to move to firing phase.

California Penal Code 597 makes it a felony for
anyone who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds
a living animal.

Update 12/16/08:
Sheriff's deputies arrested L.A. County Fire Chief Glynn Johnson today in connection
with the beating death of a neighbor's dog. The Riverside County District Attorney's
office filed felony charges against Johnson for a Nov. 3rd incident in which
Johnson allegedly beat a neighbor's six-month-old puppy.

(Photo of Karley, courtesy of KTLA News)
In recent weeks, animal rights activists and the puppy's owners have launched
a campaign seeking criminal charges against Johnson. Last week, dozens of protesters
rallied outside the Riverside County DA's office to demand charges be filed
against Johnson.

Media attention has also helped publicize the case.
Some Southern California radio shows have broadcast the phone number to the
district attorney's office and urged listeners to call and pressure officials
to file charges.

Bail has not yet been set, and his arraignment has
not been scheduled.

Update 12/17/08:
Glynn Damon Johnson, 54, of Woodcrest near Riverside, was arrested and handcuffed
and led away from his home by Riverside County sheriff's deputies.

If convicted, Johnson could serve up to four years
in prison. Johnson was released on $10,000 bond.

Johnson also is charged with two enhancements of
using a deadly weapon to commit a felony. The Riverside County district attorney's
office filed the charges more than a month after the Nov. 3 incident.

The dog's owners, Jeff and Shelley Toole, said they
were happy to see Johnson get arrested from their front yard. "I'm
joyful. This is what we knew he deserved. We wanted him to feel the process
of being arrested like a normal citizen," Jeff Toole said. "He did
this to hurt the dog and to hurt us. He's not a nice man."

After the incident Johnson was placed on paid administrative
leave from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Officials did not comment
about the arrest or any changes to his employment status.

Update 12/18/08:
A now-retired Los Angeles County assistant fire chief has filed a counter suit
against his Riverside-area neighbor, claiming permanent injury after the neighbor's
puppy bit his hand.

Her owners, the Toole family, sued Johnson last
month seeking an unspecified amount for the loss of Karley, emotional distress
and lost wages as a result of that distress. The Toole's have accused
Johnson of letting Karley out of a secured fence with the intent of hurting
her, according to their lawsuit.

In the counter lawsuit Johnson's attorneys filed,
Johnson seeks reimbursement for legal fees and damages for physical and mental
pain, and alleges that the Toole's let Karley loose in his yard.

Following a six-week investigation into whether
he was acting maliciously or in self-defense, as he claims, Johnson was charged
by Riverside County prosecutors with one count of felony animal cruelty.

He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for a
pretrial hearing Feb. 20.

In the cross-complaint, Johnson said the dog bit
his leg and through the tip of his thumb, breaking a bone in his hand that caused
permanent nerve damage. "Mr. Johnson wants to be made whole,"
said his attorney, John Sweeney. "For all the pain the Toole family caused
him visited back upon them. Everything they're trying to get from Glynn will
not prevail."

Johnson retired early last month because his injuries
may prevent him from fighting fires, Sweeney said.

The Toole's attorney, Steve Haney, called the counter
suit"frivolous" and untrue. He said Johnson's claim would not
stand up to two witnesses who say they saw the attack, and that medical evidence
would show he is not permanently injured.

"In this case their best defense is a good
offense," Haney said. "He repeatedly attacked and tried to kill the
dog. For him to come back now and say he suffered permanent injuries - if he
has any injuries at all, he brought it on himself."

Update 1/15/09:
A plea of not guilty was offered by Johnson, who is free on $100,000 bail.
Johnson, who claims he hit the dog in self-defense, is slated to return to court
next month for a felony settlement conference.

A judge is scheduled to begin reviewing evidence
this morning in the animal cruelty case against the retired Los Angeles County
assistant fire chief

During the hearing, which may last for two days,
a judge will review evidence and testimony to determine if there is enough evidence
for Johnson to stand trial before a jury.

Neighbors of former Los Angeles County fire chief
Glynn Damon Johnson detailed his allegedly vicious attack of a neighbor's puppy
during testimony in Riverside Superior Court. The neighbors said Johnson
brutally beat the 45-pound dog, striking it repeatedly with his fists and then
with a 10-inch stone.

The neighbors' account was disputed by Johnson's
wife, Bontia Antoinette Johnson, who testified that she saw the dog's jaw clenched
on her husband's hand, and he struck it only two or three times, stopping when
it loosened its grip.

At the preliminary hearing stage of a felony case,
prosecutors must produce evidence to demonstrate there is sufficient cause for
a defendant to stand trial on criminal charges.

Preliminary hearings typically include testimony
only from prosecution witnesses. But Johnson's defense has already called
Bontia Johnson to testify, and Sweeney said he intends to call additional witnesses
including possibly Glynn Johnson.

(Photo courtesy of fortheloveofthedogblog)
During the hearing, Sweeney showed poster-sized images of a thumb injury requiring
stitches that Johnson allegedly suffered during the incident.

The first witness called by Deputy District Attorney
William Robinson was 25-year-old Travis Staggs, who testified that he saw Johnson
strike the dog 20 to 30 times. Staggs, Johnson's next-door neighbor,
said the puppy, a six-month-old German Shepard mix named Karley, ran into his
yard the afternoon of the incident, apparently to play with Staggs' dogs.

Staggs said he grabbed Karley's collar intending
to walk the dog back to its owners' home next door to Johnson, on the opposite
side of Staggs. After he began walking the dog, Staggs said Johnson appeared
at the fence dividing the two properties and offered to walk the dog home.
Staggs said he passed the dog under the fence to Johnson, and watched as Johnson
walked with the dog away from the fence.

He said he saw Johnson strike the dog twice in the
head with a closed fist. Johnson was holding the dog's collar with one hand,
and punching with the other, Staggs testified. Staggs said he didn't see
the dog acting aggressive toward Johnson - either before or after Johnson struck
the dog. "She was trying to get away from him - trying to get out
of her collar," Staggs said. After the first two blows, Staggs said
Johnson threw the puppy onto its back, then straddled the dog and continued
to hit it with a closed fist.

Staggs testified that he ran to Johnson's yard,
and yelled at him to stop hitting the dog. Johnson didn't respond, Staggs testified.
After Johnson struck the dog 10 to 15 times with his fist, Staggs said he saw
Johnson grab the top and bottom of the dog's jaw and pull the two sides in opposite
directions. Johnson was "trying to break her jaw," Staggs testified.
Johnson then grabbed a stone from the ground and struck the dog an additional
10 to 15 times with the stone, Staggs testified. Not once during the incident
did the dog act aggressive toward Johnson or try to bite him, Staggs testified.

After the incident, the dog ran away from Johnson's
home and laid down in an open field in the neighborhood, Staggs testified.
"She was injured pretty badly. ... She had blood coming out of her mouth,
and her tongue was coming out of her mouth," Staggs said.

Two of Johnson's other neighbors testified that
they saw Johnson repeatedly strike Karley with a rock. Stacey and Scott
Brown, a married couple who live across the street from Johnson, said the dog
did not appear aggressive. They said they did not see the dog attack or bite
Johnson. Scott Brown called Johnson's strikes with the rock "brutal
and violent." He said he saw Johnson stand over the dog - which he said
was motionless - raise the stone over his head, then throw it at the dog's head.

Johnson's wife, Bontia Johnson, testified that she
was inside the family's home when the incident started, and went to the front
yard after hearing her husband call for help. Bontia Johnson, who said
she was Glynn Johnson's wife of 30 years, found her husband struggling on the
ground with the dog. She said the tussle was like a "wrestling match."
"I saw my husband's right hand in the dog's mouth," she testified.
She said she saw her husband try to pry open the dog's jaws with his hands.
He couldn't get his hand out, Bontia Johnson testified. He then picked
up a rock and struck the dog three times, Bontia Johnson testified. After the
third hit, the dog let go of Johnson's hand, and he stopped hitting the dog,
she testified.

Glynn Johnson declined an interview request following
the hearing. He said he feels he has been "lambasted" by the
media and doesn't want to grant interviews without his defense attorney present.

Johnson appeared in the Riverside courtroom for
the start of a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence
for a judge to order a jury trial on felony animal cruelty charges. That ruling
is expected today after the hearing concludes.

Johnson sat beside his attorney in front of family
and friends while his wife waited outside the courtroom to testify. A handful
of animal-rights supporters attended.

Prosecutors showed pictures of the bloodied puppy,
which drew gasps from spectators.

Staggs said when he ran to stop Johnson, Johnson
pushed him away. He said Johnson had his hands inside Karley's mouth, apparently
pulling her jaw open.

Defense attorney John Sweeney asked if it was possible
Karley was biting Johnson or had bitten him prior to his attack.

Staggs said, "No."

Sweeney questioned whether Staggs could properly
see Johnson as he walked the dog home, due to a boat, the bushes and a large
barn that could have blocked his view.

Staggs said he never saw Karley bite Johnson and
only saw a small puncture wound on Johnson's forearm.

Sweeney showed a large picture of Johnson's thumb
with stitches and said it was severed at the tip.

Staggs said he never saw Johnson's thumb in that
condition.

In addition to Staggs, five other witnesses testified
including a sheriff's detective and the veterinarian who treated Karley.

Update 5/1/09:
A retired Los Angeles County assistant fire chief charged with animal cruelty
in the beating death of his neighbor's puppy could learn today whether he will
have to stand trial in the case.

A preliminary hearing for Johnson is set to continue
this morning.

On the first day of his preliminary hearing, Johnson
testified that Karley all of a sudden whipped around and chomped down on his
left wrist. He said he didn't know what caused the animal's behavior to
change. Johnson testified that his right thumb was fractured -- the tip
hanging by a sliver of skin -- after the dog bit him.

The defense exhibited photographs apparently taken
within hours or a day of the incident, showing bruises and puncture wounds on
both Johnson's hands.

The prosecution inquired about Johnson's relationship
with the Toole's and his other neighbors, which the witness described as good.
"You don't get along with the Toole's, do you?" the prosecutor asked.
"I think the Toole's are good people," Johnson answered.

Johnson retired from the fire department soon after
the allegations arose. He is free on $10,000 bail.

Update 4/2/10:
Johnson was convicted in the fatal beating of his neighbor's puppy and was sentenced
to three years of probation, 90 days of weekend jail time and 400 hours of community
service working with dogs.

(Photo courtesy of the Press-Enterprise)
Johnson apologized to the Toole family for the beating of their 6-month-old
German shepherd mix, Karley.

Johnson was convicted in January of felony animal
cruelty and using a deadly weapon.

(Photo courtesy of Stan Lim/The Press-Enterprise)
Johnson is hugged by daughter Erika Johnson after being sentenced to 90 days
in jail on weekends, probation, anger management and community service. “I
don’t hate animals,” he told the owners of the dog he killed with
a rock. “I would never destroy an animal for no reason.”

At the sentencing, the Riverside courtroom was packed
with animal rights activists and Johnson's supporters. Some animal advocates
wore purple ribbons for Karley; others had on T-shirts that read, "Firefighters
against animal abuse."

Judge J. Thompson Hanks announced the sentencing
after statements by the Toole family, Johnson and Johnson's family.

Jeff Toole addressed Johnson directly. "If
she did this to you, her punishment would be death. And if I were a judge, that
would be the punishment for you, too," Toole said. "You're a danger
to society, and you need to be locked up before you hurt someone else. We've
lived in fear, wondering what you'd do next. As far as your remorse, I don't
buy it."

Johnson's family begged for leniency and requested
probation for the former Los Angeles County assistant fire chief, who took a
medical retirement after he was charged in the cruelty case. He faced a maximum
sentence of four years and four months in state prison.

However, Riverside County Deputy District Attorney
Will Robinson asked the court for probation and 365 days in Riverside County
jail.

Photo courtesy of Stan Lim/The Press-Enterprise)
Shelley Toole, right, with husband Jeff and stepson Brandon, held a news conference
after sentencing. Shelley Toole said she lost her job and stayed indoors because
she was distraught after the dog’s death.

Hanks said he received numerous letters both in
support of Johnson and condemning him. He said Johnson had no prior criminal
record and had worked for the benefit of the community as a firefighter.

"You don't see this kind of outpouring from
the community in many cases, including the death of children," Hanks said.
"As a judge, I have to balance. I have to consider the conduct of the individual
who did it and the appropriate punishment."

Johnson, who lives in the Woodcrest area south of
Riverside, was ordered to work out his community service with the Humane Society
or another dog-oriented organization. He also was ordered to attend a 16-week
anger management program. His attorney, John Sweeney, said he is appealing the
conviction.

Activists booed as Johnson left the courtroom, calling
him "evil" and "puppy killer."

Johnson's wife and daughter apologized to the Toole
family and said they, too, have endured stress in the wake of the dog's death.
They said Johnson, a 30-year veteran firefighter, retired under a dark cloud
and already has paid for what he did.

"I would not be who I am today without my father,"
said Erika Johnson, 28. "I stand here an adult, but I still need my father's
guidance and support. He's been the model that I can be anything I want despite
any adversity."

Johnson told the court he loves animals and that
he always has had pets, including dogs and horses. He has spent his career as
a firefighter helping others and he would continue to do so, he said. A retired
Anaheim fire chief spoke on his behalf.

Johnson expressed remorse to the Toole family.
"I am extremely sorry for the stress I have caused in your lives,"
he said. "I would do anything to go back and change what happened. I don't
hate animals. I love animals. I would never destroy an animal for no reason."

After Johnson spoke, Jeff and Shelley Toole and
their son, Brandon, each read letters to him, saying he had ruined their lives
by killing Karley.

Photo courtesy of Stan Lim/The Press-Enterprise)
Friends and supporters of Johnson on left, Tom Roach, of Woodcrest, and Cathy
Berndt, of Riverside, argue with Larry Toole, of Riverside, and his mother,
Joan Lambert, of Las Vegas, outside the Riverside courthouse.

Jeff Toole faced Johnson and accused him of harassing
the family since the day they moved into the neighborhood. He said he had pleaded
with Johnson to say what they could do to be good neighbors but that Johnson
reacted with rage.

Toole said his family members feared for their lives.
He read a letter from his daughter, Heather, saying she contemplated suicide
after her dog died because it created tension in her family during her senior
year of high school.

Shelley Toole said she lost her job and stayed indoors
because she was distraught and inconsolable after "Johnson killed my baby."

The Toole family, who moved from the neighborhood
after Karley's death, had initially requested $250,000 in restitution. Prosecutors
and Johnson's attorney agreed he would pay up to $1,000 in veterinary bills
for the dog's treatment after the attack. Civil lawsuits the Tooles and Johnson
filed against each other are pending.